Everyone Needs Compassion

Scripture:
1 Peter 3:8-12 (NIV)

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Devotional:

It seems that we live in a cruel and heartless world.  It is every man for himself in a cut-throat society.  People look after themselves, even within marriages and families.  Compassion is a forgotten word lost in the busyness of life.  

On the flipside we want to be shown compassion by those in our lives.  How can we expect to be shown compassion and sympathy if we cannot express it ourselves?  When was the last time you showed compassion to someone?  When did you display mercy?  In 1 Peter it tells us not to repay evil for evil.  Instead we are to repay it with blessings.  Be attentive to those around you.  The next time you have the opportunity show someone grace, mercy, and compassion.  Feel what they are going through and share in the moment.  In this you can help strengthen them.  You can make the difference in their life.  We never know the influence we will have.  We do influence those around us.  How you influence them is up to you.  Show compassion, mercy, and grace.  After all isn’t that what you want others to show you?  Isn’t that what you want for your loved ones?  Sharing in one another’s sufferings or difficulties will lessen the burdens that each of us have to carry.  Picking up a large rock can be impossible for one person.  For many working together the rock will be light and easy to carry.  Showing compassion can lighten what someone else is dealing with.  It can make all the difference.